خَصْلَةٌ

i. q. خَلَّةٌ: (S, K:) i. e. A property, quality, nature, or disposition: and a habit, or custom: (KL, PS, TK:) [and a practice, or an action: it is used in these various senses in different trads.: in one tradition, avarice is termed a خَصْلَة; and so is evilness of nature: in another, fasting, and praying: in another, the inflicting of castigation, and the executing of retaliation, in a mosque:] it signifies an excellent quality or the like; and a low, base, or mean, quality or the like; (K, TA;) in a man: (TA:) or its predominant application is to an excellent quality or the like: (K:) so in the M: (TA:) [it is said that] it is used only in commendation; whereas خَلَّةٌ is used in relation to good and evil: (Ham p. 525:) [but this is a mistake, as I have shown above:] according to Az, it signifies the states, or conditions, of things or affairs: (TA:) [or this is a signification of the plural:] the plural is خِصَالٌ (K) and خَصَلَاتٌ; (TA;) [and خَصَايءِلُ is a plural plural, i. e. plural of خِصَالٌ, with which it is explained in the KL as synonym: see an example in a verse cited voce دَفِيءٌ.]

A hitting of the target; (K;) in shooting: (TA:) or, (K,) as also خَصْلٌ, (JK, K,) in a shooting-match, (JK,) it is [a shot] in the case in which the arrow goes close by the target: (JK, K: *) thus according to Lth, who says that the former explanation is erroneous; (TA;) [as appears also from the assertion that] what are termed خَصْلَتَانِ, in a shooting-match, are reckoned as equivalent to a shot that goes right to the target. (T, K, TA.)

And according to Sgh, A single act of overcoming in a shooting-match. (TA.)

Also, and خُصْلَةٌ, A raceme, or bunch, of grapes or the like; synonym عُنْقُودٌ. (K.)

And (both words) A stick, branch, or twig, (عُودٌ,) in which are thorns. (K.)

And خَصْلَةٌ and خَصَلَةٌ, or this latter only, The extremity of a fresh, pliant, soft, or tender, twig, or rod: (K, * TA:) and (some say, TA) a soft and tender twig or rod, of the [species of mimosa called] عُرْفُط: (K, TA:) and خَصْلٌ [of which خَصْلَةٌ is the n. un.] signifies the slender extremities and branches of the عُرْفُط: (JK:) and خُصْلَةٌ, a soft and tender branch of any tree: (T, TA:) and [its plural] خُصَلٌ, the pendent extremities of trees. (S, TA.)